moby wrote:
I am asking for some help here, because If I go about this the way I would have to, it will be arduous, and I might not even do it, but so often there is a short cut to where someone has already collected the data, so I hope someone here has just done a degree in economic studies or Geography or is just nosy like me.
What I want to do is get an idea of how much of our export is import with value added, and how much comes from outside the EU and goes to it.
Example, we import dupers from Mexico, they go somewhere here and are modified, then sold to EU as Superdupers.
Any assistance will be appreciated, because unless I am ill and unable to go out, I doubt I have the inclination to do it backwards.
Good luck, I think you're going to need it.
Are you excluding stuff like clothes, toys etc. etc. that are manufactured under licence or whatever outside the EU, for UK companies to then sell to the UK and export markets?
How about the infamous prawns that are caught in the North Sea, sent to Thailand to be hand peeled, and then shipped back to the UK for final processing?
Would you count processed foods that include ingredients sourced from outside the EU?
There are lots of different ways to add value (aka make money) from imported goods, e.g. we have a client who imports tools / equipment / machinery from places like Taiwan, China, etc., takes them through the EU certification process, slaps on some stickers and then sells to the UK and EU markets under their own brand. There's another one that's a UK subsidiary of a US company that buys materials (mainly) from another UK subsidiary of a different US corporation, refinishes the product (specialist tapes & foams) and then sells it to automotive, aerospace, medical & scientific OEM's.
So, even when you buy something with a Made in the UK sticker on it, the chances are it will contain components or materials that originated outside the UK. The OEM might be using UK suppliers, but the suppliers will source their own materials and components from wherever offers the best value, which could be just about anywhere.
I personally do not think it's possible to get anything even remotely close to the answer you're looking for. Even if you had all the relevant information, which no one does, it's just too complex to even start working out.